People interested in growing and
training bonsai trees will often choose a juniper or conifer, which are
beautiful. However, another great option for bonsai is the oak tree. This
particular type of tree grows from Europe to the Caucasus to Scandinavia to Asia
Minor and North Africa. Because the bonsai oak tree tolerates high
seasonality from subzero temperatures to mild summers and even drought, it is a
popular choice. In this article, we will talk about a couple of the most popular
bonsai oak trees to give you an idea of your options.
The English Bonsai Oak tree is a beautiful tree that grows to a nice size but
not too large. Officially known as the Quercus Robur, this tree is deep rooted
and commonly grown in wet soils. Found most often in southwest England and the
Scottish highlands, it grows best from 660 to 1,320 feet above sea level.
Interestingly, when the English oak tree is mature, it supports a huge array of
life form, which includes as many as 284 different insect species.
When the English oak is grown in the wild, it can grow to as tall as 130 feet.
However, when trained, this particular tree makes an exceptional choice for
bonsai oak tree. The key is to work consistently with the training process since
the white oak tree grows very quickly. The leaves grown late, many times not
until sometime mid to late May and for some bonsai, they will still produce
miniature acorn and fruit.
Another type of bonsai oak tree that is popular is the White Oak tree.
Like the English species, the White bonsai oak tree can grow to 100 feet tall
with a spread of up to 80 feet. However, they too can be trained with
persistency and patience into beautiful miniature trees. The leaves have varying
colors from gray to pink but in the summertime, they turn to a dark greenish
color and then brown or red in the fall.
Most oak trees used for bonsai need partial shade to full sun. In addition,
these types of trees prefer wet soil although they will also thrive in moist or
dry soil, as well as loam or sandy soil. However, the goal with the soil for
bonsai oak trees is to keep it between 3.7 and 7.3 pH levels. With the white and
English oak trees, you want to prune them in the winter or early spring months.
Keep in mind that any damaged or dead wood can be trimmed back anytime as
needed.
While the oak trees make an excellent choice for bonsai oak trees, they do have
three concerns. First, they are more resistant to insects and diseases than
other trees with the White Oak being the worst of all the oak species. In
addition, bonsai oak trees are susceptible to oak scale and in the summer
months, they can develop a powdery like mildew. However, with good care and the
proper soil, your bonsai will look amazing, giving you years of enjoyment.
